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Best states for a perioperative nurse
Quoted expert
Natalie Van Waning MSN, ARNP, CPNP
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Perioperative nurse opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for perioperative nurses, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for perioperative nurses.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of perioperative nurses in America is $117,000.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for perioperative nurses.If you are currently seeking employment as a perioperative nurse, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for perioperative nurses in 2025
1. Delaware
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 783 Average annual salary: $95,759 Lowest 10 percent earn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.22. Pennsylvania
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 6,969 Average annual salary: $97,674 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.153. West Virginia
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 1,151 Average annual salary: $81,300 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location Quotient: 1.454. California
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 11,627 Average annual salary: $113,621 Lowest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $179,000 Location Quotient: 0.775. Ohio
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 5,550 Average annual salary: $87,895 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $157,000 Location Quotient: 1.056. Massachusetts
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 5,420 Average annual salary: $88,853 Lowest 10 percent earn: $49,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 1.147. Washington
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 4,423 Average annual salary: $91,669 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $128,000 Location Quotient: 1.178. Nevada
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 928 Average annual salary: $91,443 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000 Location Quotient: 0.869. Alaska
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 565 Average annual salary: $93,365 Lowest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $106,000 Location Quotient: 1.310. New York
Total perioperative nurse jobs: 6,669 Average annual salary: $91,305 Lowest 10 percent earn: $50,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1
Perioperative nurse jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a perioperative nurse
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a perioperative nurse
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $95,759 | $52,000 | 961,939 | 783 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $97,674 | $54,000 | 12,805,537 | 6,969 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $81,300 | $43,000 | 1,815,857 | 1,151 |
| 4 | California | $113,621 | $71,000 | 39,536,653 | 11,627 |
| 5 | Ohio | $87,895 | $49,000 | 11,658,609 | 5,550 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $88,853 | $49,000 | 6,859,819 | 5,420 |
| 7 | Washington | $91,669 | $65,000 | 7,405,743 | 4,423 |
| 8 | Nevada | $91,443 | $57,000 | 2,998,039 | 928 |
| 9 | Alaska | $93,365 | $81,000 | 739,795 | 565 |
| 10 | New York | $91,305 | $50,000 | 19,849,399 | 6,669 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $108,201 | $60,000 | 693,972 | 536 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $85,071 | $46,000 | 3,588,184 | 2,042 |
| 13 | Maryland | $92,056 | $50,000 | 6,052,177 | 3,120 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $89,051 | $49,000 | 1,059,639 | 477 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $93,550 | $51,000 | 9,005,644 | 3,150 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $82,452 | $49,000 | 5,795,483 | 2,646 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $76,982 | $41,000 | 4,684,333 | 2,191 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $77,930 | $52,000 | 579,315 | 367 |
| 19 | Michigan | $82,814 | $47,000 | 9,962,311 | 3,184 |
| 20 | Oregon | $89,192 | $61,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,763 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $77,375 | $41,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,847 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $74,497 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 1,207 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $101,287 | $73,000 | 1,427,538 | 250 |
| 24 | Georgia | $81,026 | $42,000 | 10,429,379 | 4,782 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $73,271 | $39,000 | 6,715,984 | 3,303 |
| 26 | Vermont | $72,834 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 523 |
| 27 | Arizona | $75,300 | $45,000 | 7,016,270 | 3,359 |
| 28 | Florida | $70,226 | $36,000 | 20,984,400 | 13,249 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $67,722 | $45,000 | 869,666 | 807 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $68,465 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 1,724 |
| 31 | Colorado | $75,618 | $49,000 | 5,607,154 | 3,327 |
| 32 | Illinois | $79,655 | $46,000 | 12,802,023 | 4,600 |
| 33 | Kansas | $73,391 | $43,000 | 2,913,123 | 1,397 |
| 34 | Montana | $65,509 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 774 |
| 35 | Idaho | $74,775 | $51,000 | 1,716,943 | 631 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $71,656 | $36,000 | 10,273,419 | 4,253 |
| 37 | Maine | $63,815 | $35,000 | 1,335,907 | 969 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $66,118 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 1,288 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $63,481 | $44,000 | 755,393 | 567 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $75,517 | $48,000 | 5,576,606 | 2,416 |
| 41 | Alabama | $67,817 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 2,068 |
| 42 | Texas | $65,056 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 12,287 |
| 43 | Virginia | $70,256 | $36,000 | 8,470,020 | 4,629 |
| 44 | Indiana | $64,062 | $36,000 | 6,666,818 | 3,606 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $68,582 | $43,000 | 1,920,076 | 941 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $65,898 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 946 |
| 47 | Missouri | $67,415 | $39,000 | 6,113,532 | 2,552 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $59,941 | $30,000 | 5,024,369 | 2,212 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $60,262 | $34,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,731 |
| 50 | Utah | $63,548 | $42,000 | 3,101,833 | 693 |
| 51 | Iowa | $57,769 | $35,000 | 3,145,711 | 1,631 |
Highest paying states for perioperative nurses
| Rank | State | Avg. Perioperative Nurse Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $95,759 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $97,674 |
| 3 | West Virginia | $81,300 |
| 4 | California | $113,621 |
| 5 | Ohio | $87,895 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $88,853 |
| 7 | Washington | $91,669 |
| 8 | Nevada | $91,443 |
| 9 | Alaska | $93,365 |
| 10 | New York | $91,305 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $108,201 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $85,071 |
| 13 | Maryland | $92,056 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | $89,051 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $93,550 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $82,452 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $76,982 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $77,930 |
| 19 | Michigan | $82,814 |
| 20 | Oregon | $89,192 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $77,375 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $74,497 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $101,287 |
| 24 | Georgia | $81,026 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $73,271 |
| 26 | Vermont | $72,834 |
| 27 | Arizona | $75,300 |
| 28 | Florida | $70,226 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $67,722 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $68,465 |
| 31 | Colorado | $75,618 |
| 32 | Illinois | $79,655 |
| 33 | Kansas | $73,391 |
| 34 | Montana | $65,509 |
| 35 | Idaho | $74,775 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $71,656 |
| 37 | Maine | $63,815 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $66,118 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $63,481 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $75,517 |
| 41 | Alabama | $67,817 |
| 42 | Texas | $65,056 |
| 43 | Virginia | $70,256 |
| 44 | Indiana | $64,062 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $68,582 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $65,898 |
| 47 | Missouri | $67,415 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $59,941 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $60,262 |
| 50 | Utah | $63,548 |
| 51 | Iowa | $57,769 |
Expert opinions on the best states for perioperative nurses
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for perioperative nurses to find work opportunities?
Natalie Van Waning MSN, ARNP, CPNP
Chair, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, PNCB
Most major healthcare settings are in need of nursing staff due to shortages and overtime requirements, plus the current pandemic workforce has been cut short due to illness preventing staff from being able to work. Currently, at our academic healthcare setting, hourly overtime pay has been increased due to the need for staff to fill shifts empty because of the pandemic.
Perioperative nurse best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025